virtual orchestra

What’s a virtual orchestra ???

First, in order to remove fears from the concept that some certainly does not know, let me clarify that Virtual orchestra sounds surprisingly like the real thing (examples of quality sound can be heard in the video at the bottom), and the concept is that if I, as a musician that has a very sensitive ear, I assume that if I enjoy it – most people will enjoy it…

Compared to musicians, the virtual orchestra has advantages and disadvantages.

The benefits of live orchestra with musicians it that it have more depth of tone and one can enjoy the nuances of each instrument. Of course the more high-level musicians, one can enjoy the style and abilities of each musical instrument.
The disadvantages are size (especially when it comes to small events or small places), high cost, limited repertoire, and of course, the human factor should be professional, responsible, high quality – which is not always available …

The benefits of virtual orchestra is the enormous variety of sounds with which you can create rich arrangements. Freedom to create the arrangements, and create a personal and unique repertoire of infinite variety, which is the dream of every artist.

It is compact, can be used in family singing evening in the living room…), it is affordable, there are no problems of discipline and responsibility of the musicians, and not dependent on the level of musicians or their mood. The sound quality and performance always be the same – except when I changes the files in purpose.

For the virtual orchestra, we use a computer connected via USB to external synthesizer, into which different sounds of the instruments used for music production. Synthesizer includes over 1,000 sounds of different instruments, with which it is possible to use in recording and production, including drums, guitars, violins, range of a variety of wind instruments, pianos, organs, accordions, and in fact almost every musical instrument imaginable.

The protocol which I specialize and I have been working with him for over twenty years, is called MIDI protocol, which is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.

How It Works…
When it comes to text processing, the computer uses ASCII protocol, which is a standard binary code for letters, numbers and symbols that the computer uses, and converts into a language that we can understand.
When we type the letter A, a processor located inside the keyboard sends the computer’s central processor a string of binary numbers, informing him that the A key is pressed, and so for every letter, symbol or number that has its own binary string, and that letter is stored in computer memory, and appears on the display.

The same principle exists when it comes to music, but unlike a keyboard letters and numbers, musical keyboard – MIDI speak the language of musical notes.
Some of its provisions represent music notation as-Do Re Mi ets, and some are used to control the sound card or the external synthesizer what to do with those notes. For example, “bend” the sound / add vibration, control his the “sound color” changes in intensity over time, and many other features.

In each digital instrument as organ, synthesizer, electronic drums, – and even Digital wind instruments and more, the manufacturer installs a processor, that with every key press, sends to MIDI or USB port the binary code of the note that is pressed and the control events, thus allowing him to “talk” to a computer or another synthesizer.

MIDI Files surprisingly small in relation to the quality of the sound, from the reason that the file is just a collection of characters (Do-Re-Mi, etc.), like letters in a word processing files, in the contrary of a recorded music, which samples the wave data thousands of times per second, and requires large amount of memory to save the playback and restore them.

In this technology, the computer is connected to a professional synthesizer, sending him the notes and the instructions in tremendous speed into sixteen different channels simultaneously. The richness of the sound is similar to big band playing together, each instrument in his own role, tuned, accurate.
Together, they actually play and function rich virtual orchestra that includes all the necessary musical instruments for musical production at the highest level.

In addition to the ability of the system that we are working to play the musical notes to create arrangements, it allows to insert lyrics into a file, syncronize it and display them in a separate window that we present to the public.

This music system, which accompanied us during the event, is smart, high-quality and luxurious, with musical quality and meticulous production that make the singing into special experience. We adjust the scale to the voices so that the guests can sing naturally, effortlessly, with no squeaks and counterfeiting, comfortably and optimally.